CHARLESTON, S.C. – The College of Charleston women’s basketball team is set to take on its toughest opponent of the season Thursday night at TD Arena, where it will be hosting a benefit to help fight childhood cancer.

The event, which is being held in conjunction with the Cougars 7 p.m. conference matchup with the Tigers of Towson University – will be held along the main concourse in the arena.

Along with accepting donations, the College will also be auctioning off women’s hoops related artwork, courtesy of McTier Art (Augusta, Ga.). All proceeds will go to the Press On Fund, an organization dedicated to investing in medical research focused on novel and less toxic therapies for neuroblastoma and acute myeloid leukemia (“AML”), two deadly pediatric cancers.

Come out and join the Cougars in their support of those affected by childhood cancer.

ABOUT PRESS ON:

The Press On Fund was formed in June 2006 by Stephen and Erin Chance after their then 3 year old son, Patrick, was diagnosed with Stage IV neuroblastoma. In January of 2009, Turner and Tara Simkins’ son, Brennan, was diagnosed with AML on the eve of his 7th birthday. In addition to these primary cancers both boys are battling, each is also at high risk for developing treatment related AML. In other words, both Patrick and Brennan could win their battles against neuroblastoma and AML only to later develop AML because of the toxicity of the treatments they received to cure their initial cancers.

Ironic, isn’t it. Thus, the Chances expanded the mission of Press On to include research for AML and invited the Simkins to join them in directing the monies raised through CURE’s 501(c)(3) umbrella.

Press On’s goal is to achieve a greater cure rate for these cruel diseases while mitigating the potentially devastating side effects of current therapies. To accomplish this goal, Press On provides grants to scientists conducting research into novel, targeted therapies for neuroblastoma and AML.

The significance of these research dollars for Patrick and Brennan, and many children just like them, cannot be underscored. Patrick is in his 5th year of treatment and his second relapse. Brennan is in his third year of treatment and his second relapse as well.

Thursday’s game is a great opportunity to make your voice heard in this difficult battle against childhood cancer.

STATISTICS RELATED TO CHILDHOOD CANCER

• 36 children are diagnosed each day in the US

• Over 175,000 children are diagnosed annually worldwide

• Two-thirds of all children who battle cancer have long-lasting side effects